Coin-controlled magazine switch mechanism



Oct. 1, 1940 F. H. osBoRNE: Er AL 2,216,624 i COIN-CONTROLLED IAGAZINESWI'ECH MECHANISM I v Filed 1m. 20. 1937 '2 Shani-Sheet 1 Oct. 1, -1940.in H. osaonus: 1' AL 2,216,624

CDIFCORTROLLUD IAGAZINB SWITCH MECHANISI I .l'ilod w. 20.1931 zShoots-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 1, 1940 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECOIN-CONTROLLED MAGAZINE SWITCH MECHANISM Fred H. Osborne, Snyder, andTheodore LL Wright, North Tonawanda, N. Y., assignors to The RudolphWurlitzer Company, North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation oi OhioApplication December 20, 1937, Serial No. 180,728

6 Claims. (01. 200-33) This invention relates generally tocoin-contlally the manner shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, or trol devicesand more particularly to a coin-conit may be initiated mechanically atthe instrutrolled magazine switch mechanism adapted for ment through themedium of a coin slide mechuse with coin-operated phonographs and otheranlsm, such, for example, as depicted in Figure 6.

5 coin-controlled devices or apparati. In its general organization, themagazine 5 It has for one of its objects to provide a magaswitchassembly includes a switch included in the zine switch mechanism of thischaracter which motor or other operating circuit of the phonois sodesigned and constructed as to be positive ap r l appa t r a v y m v land reliable in operation, which is not liable to switch-governingelements which are adapted, get out of order, and which is not subjectto when engaged, to effect the opening of the motor 10 jamming. circuitand which are adapted, firstly, to be ac- Another object of theinvention is the provision tuated in a relative direction to becomeseparated of a coin-control device having simple and efor disengaged toeffect the closing of such circuit fective means for governing theclosing and openand maintain it closed for a predetermined time ingmovements of the controlling switch of the period. s dete by the numberof coins or 15 I phonograph or like apparatus and which means coin'value deposited, and, secondly, to be actuincludes relativelydisplaceable elements designed ated in a like relative direction toapproach or for movement in the same direction to produce a convergetoward each other in ultimate engagedivergent or convergent relationshipto effect, rement to effect the opening of the motor circuit;

Q spectively, the closing of the switch upon the coin-controlled meansfor controlling the sepadeposit of one or more coins and the opening ofrating or dive e t D ent 0f the Sw chthe switch when service has beenrendered for erning ele and means Operated from the the last coindeposited. phonograph, say, after a record has been played,

Other features of the invention reside in the for controlling theapproaching or convergent SI construction and arrangement of partshereink movement of such elements to automatically after described andparticularly pointed out in open the circuit and stop the phonographwhen the appended claims. the last record for the number of coinsdeposited In the accompanying drawings: has been played. T Figure 1 is afragmentary rear view of the By way of example, our magazine switchaschassis of an automatic phonograph showing our sembly is shown inconnection with an automatic 0 improved coin-control magazine switchmechor multi-selective type of phonograph, the nuanism associatedtherewith. Figure 2 is an enmeral l0 indicating the chassis generally, Hthe larged front view of the magazine switch mechsupporting frame of themagazine switch mechanism as operatively connected for electrical oranism which is appropriately mounted on the I remote control. Figure 3is a left end view of chassis or cabinet of the phonograph, and l2 9.such mechanism showing the switch-governing coin chute containingelectrical contacts adapted elements and associated parts. Figure 4 is ato be closed by an inserted coin for in turn acturight end view of thesame showing the electriating the magazine switch mechanism. Suchcally-controlled shaft actuating means. Figure 5 type of coin chute maybe used in the remote com 0 is a vertical section taken on line 55,Figure 3. trol of a phonograph, whereas in Figure 6 we Figure 6 is aperspective view of one form of coin show a coin slide mechanism whichis usually apslide mechanism which may be operatively conplied directlyto the phonograph and which is 'nected with the actuating shaft of ourmagazine operatively connected to the magazine switch switch assembly.Figure 7 is a fragmentary mechanism for actuating it.

a horizontal section taken in theplane of line 1-4, The working parts ofthe magazine switch Figure 3. mechanism are mounted as a unitaryassembly Similar characters of reference indicate coron the supportingframe II, I! indicating the acresponding parts throughout the severalviews. tuating shaft of the mechanism which is jour- While our magazineI switch mechanism has naled at its ends in said frame and which shaftis I been designed more particularly for use and has adapted to beactuated by the electrical coinbeen shown in conjunction withcoin-operated control mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4pho'nographs, it is to be understood that it is iikeand generallyindicated by the numeral H, or by wise applicable to othercoin-controlled instruthe coin slide mechanism shown in Figure 6 andments or apparatus, and in its use it may be inindicated generally bythe numeral I5, the actull itiated electrically by remote control insubstanation of this shaft, in either case, controlling the closing of apair of switch-governing elements l6, i! which in turn control anactuatable arm or part 18 of a micro or like switch I! included in theoperating circuit of the phonograph or other apparatus. In thisinstance, the switch includes a fixed contact 20 and a spring-pressedmovable contact or button 2i actuated in response to the opening andclosing movements of the controlling arm l8, these contacts beingconnected. to the operating circuit, such as the motor 22 of thephonograph.

The switch-governing elements 15 and H are disposed in adjoiningcooperative relation at one end of the shaft II, the element l6 beingsubstantially in the form of an arm which is fixed as indicated at 23 onthe shaft so as to turn therewith when motion is imparted thereto, whilethe companion switch-governing element I1 is laterally displaceable intoand out of bearing engagement with the former and is likewise disposedradially of the shaft but loosely mounted thereon for independentrelative movement about its axis. By preference, the switch-governingelement I! is borne by and pivoted at 14 to the inner face of a ratchetwheel 25 which is loosely mounted on the shaft l3 between the elementsIS and i1 in'the manner shown in Figures 2 and 5. This switch-governingelement I1 is shaped to freely straddle or embrace the shaft or the hubof the ratchet wheel and is free to be displaced about its pivot in adirection axially of the shaft or toward and from the face of theratchet wheel. The intermediate portion 26 of the element H is adapted,through the medium of an interposed washer 21, to abut against the upperor free end of the switch-actuating arm |8,

whereby, when the element I! is displaced in a direction away from theratchet wheel, as seen by dotted lines in Figure 5, it serves to openthe switch l9, and when shifted in the opposite direction to the fullline position seen in the same figure, the switch is automaticallyclosed. As shown in Figure 5, the spring-pressed switch contact 2| tendsconstantly to seek a closed position, and this also tends to rock thearm I! and switch-governing element I 1 to the full line position shownin such figure. At its upper or free end the switch-governing element I1is provided with an outwardly-facing lug or projection 28 which passesfreely through an opening 29 in the ratchet wheel 25 for cooperatingengagement with the opposing face of the companion switch-governingelement 16. As seen in Figure 7, the contacting end of the lug 28 isbeveled as indicated at 30, so that during a movement of theswitchgoverning element i1 relative to the companion element ii, thebeveled end of the lug Ill will ride beneath the opposing face of saidelement l8 and effect an inward displacement of the element I! to thedotted line, switch-opening position shown in Figure 5. Likewise, whenthe shaft-attached element I 6 moves relative to the companion elementH, as when effecting a closing of the switch I9, such element i! will begradually displaced toward the face of the ratchet wheel 25 by thetension on the switch-actuating arm i8 to switch-closing position.

When a coin is deposited in either the electrical type or coin slidetype of coin mechanism heretofore referred to, the shaft II is revolvedin a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Figure 3, a predetermineddistance for each unit coin deposited, and in so doing the element i6fixed on the shaft is angularly displaced from the companion element Hto effect a closing of the switch ll. With each unit coin deposited, theelement l6 diverges a greater distance from the then stationaryswitch-governing element ll. Referring to the electrical coin-controlmechanism shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 for actuating the shaft I3, thenumeral 3| indicates a ratchet wheel fixed on the other end of the shaftII which is adapted to be actuated by the plunger 32 of a solenoid II,included in the coin control circuit 34, through the medium of aspring-pressed pawl 36 mounted on a rock lever 36 pivoted on the shaftand having one arm connected at one end to the solenoidplunger. A spring31 is connected to the other lever-arm for urging the same and the partsconnected thereto to their initial position after the coin circuit isopened. Also cooperating with the ratchet wheel II is a weightedescapement pawl 3| which constitutes a forward and backward stoptherefor. Thus, whenever a coin is deposited in the chute II, thecircuit of the solenoid N is closed, the plunger 32 is pulled inwardlyand the ratchet wheel 3|, together with the shaft II, is moved adistance of one tooth. This same movement is transmitted to theswitch-governing element it fixed on the opposite end of the shaft andresults in such element riding ofl the lug ll of the companionswitch-governing element I! to effect the automatic closing of theswitch I! and start the phonograph in operation. Should more than onecoin be deposited, the shaft II will be moved a distance of one toothfor each coin so deposited which will result in the element I beingdisplaced farther from and in a more or less divergent relation to thecompanion element I! to thereby keep or maintain the switch l9 closedfor the predetermined time period required for insuring the patron thevalue received for the coins deposited.

After each unit coin is registered in the magazine switch mechanism inthe manner above set forth, there are means provided which function torestore such mechanism to switch-opening position when the patron hasreceived the value received for the coin deposited. In the case of anyautomatic phonograph, such restoration is effected in step by stepfashion at the end of play of each record selection and during suchperiod motion is transmitted to the ratchet wheel I! to bring theswitch-governing element l1 toward the companion element I6 andultimately in engaging relation therewith to eifect the opening of theoperating circuit of the phonograph. To this end, a pawl 38 is disposedin cooperating relation with the toothed periphery of the ratchet wheel25, this pawl being guided on a suitable bracket 39 attached to theframe I l and yieldably attached at its lower end to one arm of a bellcrank lever 40 pivoted at II and having its other arm connected by alink 42 to an actuatable part, say, 43 of the phonograph, such part inthis instance constituting an element of the record changing mechanismand being moved in a direction at the end of playing a record to rockthe bell crank in a direction to move the pawl ll upwardly and advancethe ratchet wheel 25 a distance of one tooth in a counter-clockwisedirection, that is, in the same direction in which the shaft I I isactuated by the coin control units I or ii. If desired, a pawl 44 havinga roller or like element 45 thereon may be provided for operativeengagement with the ratchet wheel 25 to constitute a forward andbackward stop for the ratchet wheel. It will thus be seen that when eachrecord is played, the pawl 38 is actuated to advance the ratchet wheelone tooth to thereby 1| bring the switch-governing element l I nearerthe companion element l6, and when the last record for the coin valuedeposited has been played, such element ll will have reached a positionin register or alinement with that of the companion element it to effectthe opening of the switch II in the manner heretofore described.

In Figure 6 we have shown, by way of example, a coin slide mechanismwhich may, be employed for initiating the mechanical actuation of theshaft l3. This coin slide unit includes a plurality of coin slides 46for receiving coins of different denominations, say 5, 10 and 25 centpieces, and each of these slides is adapted to govern and control themovement of a ratchet and pawl mechanism indicated generally at 41 forimparting a predetermined degree of rotation to the shaft in accordancewith the coin value deposited. The nickel tilde imparts a one toothmovement to its companion ratchet mechanism 41 to turn the shaft l3 andswitch-governing element It a like distance, while the dime and quarterslides impart a two-tooth and fivetooth movement, respectively, to theircompanion ratchet mechanismsand thence to said shaft l3.

While manifestly simple and compact in con struction, this improvedcoin-control magazine switch mechanism is so designed that jamming ofits parts is eliminated, it having been noted that the switch-governingelements I and II, when moved relatively to each other to assume more orless variable angular positions. travel in the same direction whenseeking a switchclosing or switch-opening position.

We claim as our invention:

1. A switch-controlling device, comprising a shaft adapted to berotatedin step by step 'fashion in one direction, relatively movableswitch-governing elements mounted on said shaft, one of said"ele'm'entsbeing fixed on said shaft for movement therewith in a direction awayfrom the companion element to close the switch, a ratchet wheel looselymounted on said shaft in juxtaposition to said elements, the other ofsaid elements bein pivoted tosaid wheel for displacement to and from aswitch-closing position and having a part disposed for engagement withand in the turning path of the companion element for governing suchposition, said elements when engaged maintaining the switch in openposition and when disengaged effecting the closing of the switch, andmeans engageable with said ratchet wheel for turnin it in a direction tobrin its switch-governing element in a direction toward the companionelement to open the switch.

2. A switch control mechanism, comprising a switch, a shaft, relativelymovable switch-governing elements disposed substantially radially ofsaid shaft, for interengagement at a predetermined time in theirrelative movements to open the switch and for disengagement at othertimes to close the switch, one of said elements being fixed thereon toturn therewith, a rotatable member loosely mounted on said shaft and towhich the other element is pivoted for lateral displacement by thecompanion element into and out of switch-closing position, means foractuating said shaft and its fixed switch-governing element in adirection to control the relative movement of said switch-governingelements out of operative engagement to close the switch, and means foractuating the rotatable member of said displaceable switch-governingelement in a pivoted thereon and movable to and from a switch-closingposition, a shaft constituting a support for said rotatable member andhaving an/arm fixed thereon and disposed for operative engaging relationwith said switch-governing element, for moving the latter toswitch-opening position, means for actuating said shaft in a dir tion tomove its arm from engaging relation with said element to permit thelatter to assume a switch-closing position, and means for moving therotatable member of said switchgoverning element in the direction ofmovement of said shaft to present such element into operativeswitch-opening engagement with said shaft-arm.

4. A switch control mechanism, comprising a switch-governing elementmovable to and from a switch-closing position, a shaft having an armfixed thereon and disposed for operative engaging relation with saidswitch-governing element for moving the latter to switch-openingposition, means for actuating saidshaft in a direction to move its armfrom engaging relation with said element to permit the latter to assumea switchclosing position, a ratchet wheel loosely mounted on said shaftbetween said arm and said switch-' governing element and constituting asupport for the latter, said switch-governing element being pivoted tothe face of the ratchet wheel to rock toward and from the same to andfrom its switch-closing position, and means for actuating said ratchetwheel in the direction of movement of said shaft toward switch-openingrelation to said shaft-arm.

5. A switch control mechanism including a part to be actuated foropening and closing the switch, a shaft having an arm radially fixedthereon, a ratchet wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, with one facethereof alongside said arm for rotation independently thereof, saidwheel having an opening therein, a lever pivoted on the opposite face ofsaid ratchet wheel axially of said shaft for lateral displacement towardand from such face and in cooperative engagement with the actuable partof said switch for controlling the same, said lever having a projectionthereon extending through said wheelopening for engagement with saidshaft-arm in switch-opening position, means for actuating said shaft inone direction to effect a divergent angular displacement of its arm fromsaid pivoted lever to cause a closing of the switch, and means formoving said ratchet wheel in a like direction to efl'ect a convergentdisplacement of its lever toward and in switch-opening engagement withsaid am.

6. A switch control mechanism, comprising a switch, a shaft, a ratchetwheel loosely mounted thereon, relatively movable switch-governingelements disposed for operative engagement at a predetermined time intheir relative movements to open the switch and for disengagement atother times to close the switch, said elements being arrangedsubstantially radially of said shaft at opposite sides of said wheel,one of said elements being fixed on said shaft and the other beingpivotally mounted on said wheel and laterally displaceable by andrelative to its companion element into and out of switch-closingposition, means for actuating said shaft and for actuating saiddisplaceable swibch-goverm ing element in a like direction to controlthe relative movement 0! such elements to open the switch.

FRED H. OSBORNE. 5 THEODORE M. WRIGHT.

